Psalm 22

 Amazing, yet not at all. What Jesus would experience before He even existed. The thoughts that might have been on His mind. What He would do for those who would believe in Him, before many even existed...the love. What He would do to those who do not believe...the judgment. The two sides of this Savior. 

A synopsis of His life...despised, rejected, humiliated...only to be glorified by a greater God. What He has done for us and what is often ignored. Indescribable, horrific, glorious. How can one not see and desire to know Him? 

He did it for His Father, He did it for us. He died that all who would truly believe would be set free from their sins. All glory is due only Him. 

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? 

O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent. 

But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; they trusted in You, and were not ashamed. 

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!” 

But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God. 

Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 

Many bulls have surrounded Me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion. 

I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. 

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. 

For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. 

They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots. 

But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! 

You have answered Me. I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You. 

You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! 

For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from Him; but when He cried to Him, He heard. 

My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. 

The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever! All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. 

For the kingdom is the LORD’s, and He rules over the nations. 

All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship; all those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive. 

A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, they will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.

This is a loving Savior. 

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All Under the Same Condemnation

Philippians‬ ‭2:8‬ ‭- And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

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Reading over all four crucifixion accounts this morning I realize, again, there are so many elements to the brief Gospel accounts. Jesus was wrongly accused, yet He did not say a word, apart from suggesting that, "It is as you say," when questioned if He was the King of the Jews. He did not defend Himself. He didn't need to; He was the spotless Lamb, like those repeatedly being sacrificed in the Old Testament, yet now being offered as the once for all Sacrifice for mankind's sin.

He said not a word when being mocked, spat upon or whipped. He carried His cross without complaint despite the fact He had to have been in immense pain...and knowing what was at the end of that walk to Golgotha. He did it for each of us, without complaint.

Then there's Simon the Cyrene. He was ordered to help Jesus carry His cross. It shows us that as believers and followers we, too, are to carry this cross for Him. When we are mocked for our beliefs, we continue speak the truth. We carry on our roles in sharing the same message as Jesus, the disciples and any followers since. It will not be easy sometimes because we will face some of the same things...some even death for those beliefs.

Two thieves were also being led to the place where Jesus was nailed to the cross, one on either side of Him. One was angry, one repentant. At the last minute of the one thief's life, he was pardoned. Jesus never stopped forgiving and doing His Father's will. I love these words from the forgiven thief to the other: Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds...(Luke 23:40-41) We are all guilty of sin. None are righteous, none without fault. We all need to react like this thief or we are like the unrepentant one. One went to paradise, one did not. So it still is. One will receive eternal life, another will not.

All but John's account mentioned the tearing of the veil in the temple, the earth quaking, dark skies. We don't know why and it doesn't change the fact it happened. John was the closest to Jesus, like a brother. Maybe his focus was more on the Lord and His mother. Jesus' death meant that there no longer needed to be a separation between God and man that so prevailed in the Old Testament rituals when the high priest was the mediator...the veil of separation was gone, Jesus becoming our Great High Priest and our only Mediator between God and man. When one realizes that Jesus truly is the Son of God who took away the sins of the earth...if one believes by faith and receives Christ into their lives...we can go to the throne of God boldly (Hebrews 4:16).

Easter is not about egg hunts or bunnies! I really don't know where those customs come from. And although we go through the motions of celebrating this time of year, we should be celebrating every day. Celebrate Him and who He is, what He has done and what He is still willing to do for those who seek Him. Celebrate the King of all kings, the Lord of all lords. Celebrate our lives if we have received Christ. 

Don't think that your sins are automatically forgiven because you've read this or went to church on Easter or go every week. There is more you need to do. Your sins are only forgiven if you receive Christ. If there is ever any feeling of uncomfortableness in hearing the name of Jesus, saying His name or you don't like these words or the words of pastors, maybe you haven't done this. 

Is He your King? Has He changed your life? Has He forgiven you of your sins? Have you let Him? Every day is a new day to do this. 

Philippians‬ ‭2:9-11‬ ‭- Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

On Him They Laid the Cross

Luke 23:25 - Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.

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We know the account of Jesus carrying His own cross to His crucifixion. We know the symbolism of Simon the Cyrenian being asked to take up the cross and carry it for Jesus. As believers we are all called to take up our crosses for Jesus.

Being a follower of Christ is not easy. Taking up our cross means we die to ourselves and learn to live for Christ. As people mocked, jeered and rejected Him and His words of truth, so will people do the same to those who take Him at His word, who believe His truth. We learn to daily to die to self, to know what truth is and not be in the world while living here. We do not accept the things God rejects. This is hard for many people. 

There are many who believe we are in the last days mentioned in the Bible. We see it all around us and we see how quickly things are happening. Many others do not see it, or choose not to, saying times have changed...and shouldn't we just fit in with those times? God's Word has clearly shown us right from wrong but somehow some have decided His words are outdated. God is the same today as yesterday and will be the same tomorrow. And since this statement is true...and Jesus is God and the Word...this/His Word never changes either. 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:8‬)

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. ‭‭(Numbers‬ ‭23:19‬, Psalm 119:89‬)

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Just because the majority of society does not believe won't cause God to change what is happening. He has been longsuffering and still continues to love us all, but He will do all it takes to open people's eyes to His truth. It may seem old fashioned, unfair or disastrous, but it is only bringing us to His glorious end. Glorious to those who believe, trust, serve and obey Him.

Amid the junk going on we can have peace, but it only comes from knowing Christ. He is all we need. He will provide, supernaturally and in His perfect timing, when we need it. We need not fear. He can be our strength, our portion, our refuge in times of trouble. We look to Him and no one else.

We sang a song last Sunday that has stuck with me all week! Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. Won't you trust too? 

Luke‬ ‭9:23-24‬ ‭- Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."

Oh the Questions

John ‭6‬:‭25-40 - And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” ‬

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” 

Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 

Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” 

All these questions!

When did You come here?
What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?
What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? 
What work will You do? 

Jesus' answer: Do not labor for that which does not satisfy but only believe in Me, the bread of life.

How many times has He approached you and you did not notice? How many times have you thought you needed to be a better person before seeking Him? (Pride) Or how often do you consider all your good works will get you to heaven? (Pride) What sign do you need from Him before you will believe?

The sign He performed was His work done at the cross. All He asks is that we humble ourselves and believe in Him from the very depth of our souls. Yet it's our pride that tends to get in the way.

If He was willing to come down from heaven to us, to die for us, shouldn't we be willing to bow before Him?

Here's another chance to see Him and believe. Read His words above again. They are life. They satisfy. Nothing else will. If you can't believe me, believe Him.

Romans ‭4‬:‭2,4-5 - For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness...‬

Believe, Pride, Works, The Cross, Bread of Life, Humble Yourself

Mystery of Reconciliation

Ephesians 3:14-19 - For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

I read this this morning. In the Bible it was entitled Appreciation of the Mystery. What He has done is a mystery. My heart wept and also rejoiced. It wept for those who do not know Christ Jesus. Who do not know the love He has for every person. And I rejoiced because I have had a glimpse of it. And I know there's more. It's never ending. It's all encompassing.

...that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory... Not our own idea of riches, but His. Not our own idea of achievements, but His. It has everything to do with Him and not ourselves. He is the one who gives as we need, not we who look to our own desires for what we need.

We must be rooted and grounded in Him. We must be found in Him in our last days to receive everlasting life. If we have any doubt about this we must reconsider His words.

His love, which passes knowledge, was nailed to a tree 2000 years ago. He did this for each of us. He suffered the the agony of all our sins. Can you imagine this? This too surpasses all understanding; we cannot imagine. We cannot imagine.

And yet He did this that if we would lay aside our lives for Him He would fill us with more than we could ever know. If my heart cries out for people to understand this it is only a very small amount of the desires of the Lord. Very small.

I read the following verses. They were entitled Reconciled in Christ. What Jesus did for us. What happens when we come, starting out as enemies...enemies...of Christ, to the saving knowledge of Him...and reconciled. Our works, achievements are considered wicked before receiving Christ. We are saved by grace through faith in Him and nothing else. If it were not so Jesus would not have had to die at all. It would have been a pointless act if we could achieve sinless lives on our own.

If you have read more than one of these blogs you have heard the Gospel and what is necessary. I may not present it the best way all the time, but God's Word can stand on its own. I know what is necessary, what happened to me and what can happen to anyone who puts their trust and faith in Christ and not self.

Colossians 1:19-23 - For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. 

At the Foot of the Cross

Hebrews 13:12-14 - Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

The last few days have been incredible. There's nothing like seeing God at work. It's one thing to just hear about it, but to see it...priceless.

On Sunday a man entered our church totally intoxicated. I mean, really bad. He walked up the center aisle shouting, "I don't want to drink no more!" He repeated this over and over. He went to the front of the church and fell on his knees before God. It was both heart wrenching and beautiful. He needs to be delivered, he needs Jesus, I thought. He knew where to go. At the foot of the cross.

If I remember correctly, outside the gate and outside the camp in the scripture above was in effect demeaning. Jesus was crucified with criminals...they were not worthy of being within the gates of the city. In the Old Testament sacrifices were made by all God's people for the atonement of sins. Animals were sacrificed and the blood sprinkled on the altar for this atonement. It was an act repeatedly done because sins were never forgiven. It was done outside the camp. But Jesus came to be the once for all ultimate sacrifice that anyone who would come to the cross in repentance would be saved. And to add to all His humiliation, it was also outside the gate.

Like this man, this is how we all need to come to the cross. Kneel before the Lord broken before God and cry out to Him for the forgiveness of our sins. If we think we don't have sin, God will reveal it...often, but not always, by bringing us to the very place this man was, broken before God. Broken. Only when we are broken, with only one place to go, like to the Lord, will we see Him for the Savior He is.

We can think we have no sin. But we are all sin filled. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; (‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭28-31‬) Ouch. If we have done any of  these things, or broken any of the commandments, even though it might seem petty, we have sinned.

So, two days later we hear the report that one of our deacons went to visit this man. The place where he lives has security locked doors. It was unlocked! He walked in and found this man's room and his door was also open. What our deacon saw was amazing. He did not look like the man we saw in church. It is believed he encountered Jesus. What he needs now is someone to guide him and speak encouraging words to him, love on him and teach him about the what Jesus can do...and has begun to do...for him. And this is being done. Praise God.

Our church is one of those who do not believe in turning away those who Jesus calls a sinner, just because they don't look like they belong in a church. These are the people that do belong in church. Jesus welcomed all people. He woos us all but it's how we respond to His call. Are we so proud as to think only the drunkard, the murderer, the vile need Jesus and that we do not? It's all about going to Him, giving ourselves to Him and letting Him forgive us of our sins so we can be called holy,
righteous and children of God.

I look at Jesus' death outside the camp, in a way, as it not being about the building, about the denomination or church. It goes beyond that and is not confined to a building.  It's about Jesus only. He will meet us anywhere. He will meet any person of any nation, tongue, creed...not just certain ones. He wants ALL people to come to Him. What an amazing God! There is not one greater than another. Only Jesus is greater. We all come to Him from the same place, that of sin filled individuals.

Prayer abounds for this man. He needs God's strength and power for him to completely overcome his need for drink. Yet it is still a decision he must make to constantly rely on the Lord and we have a very evident enemy not wanting yet another person to trust wholly in Christ. The enemy says "Does God really say that?" Yes, He does.

I pray for God to do a mighty work not only in this man, that he would be an amazing testimony of God's healing power, that God would be glorified in this man's life, but for all who think they have no sin, that God would present to them the truth that He proclaims in His Word. It's about dying to our own and society's beliefs of what is right and wrong and realizing what God has pointed out.

If you are a believer and you feel led, please pray for this man. God will know who he is. I think of the old hymn, At the Cross. Hear these words:

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away,

It was there by faith I received my sight,

And now I am happy all the day!

I want to end with this scripture. Remember Jesus calls us to Himself. Have you heard Him call? Have you responded?

Mark 8:34 - When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

The Way of the Cross

Isaiah 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

This country is in a great need of a spiritual awakening. ...As I've traveled from city to city I see how far people have wandered from God. Of all the things I've seen and heard there's only one message that can change people's lives. There is a way...if you come the way of the cross. - Billy Graham

Years ago I would have quickly curled my lip and switched the channel had I seen commercials advertising Billy Graham and one of his televised crusades. For the most part each crusade was pretty much the same, with the same message in different words. Wasn't that ultimately what Jesus did?

We are all like sheep, wandering in our own directions. We all are in need of a Shepherd to guide us in the way of truth. There is only one true Shepherd and He paid the price so we all could be free from our wandering and guided by Him.

There is only one message...and Jesus IS the Message. Billy Graham said it...There is only one way, the way of the cross. Jesus said it like this: I am the way, truth and the life... How can you change that truth? Jesus is the Way...of the cross. In those days crucifixion was done so that all could see. Crosses were set up along the roads leading to and from a town, like a warning for others. Picture the Way carrying the cross and the Way being mounted onto it with nails and the Way suffering thereon, then the Way giving up the ghost. Graham said the worst part wasn't all that He had to go through to get to the cross. The worst part was for a time being separated, forsaken from His Father. That's what we all are before Christ...separated from our Heavenly Father.

All Jesus has done for us. I AM THE WAY, He tells us. Like the warning if the crosses lining the way in the streets, He became the warning for us.

Hah! Yesterday our pastor, Terry Fischer, made mention of warning. Often people question how we can say God is a loving God but kill so many, as in the case of Sodom and Gomorrha, Samaria even other times when God's judgment fell on a people or nation, like how He does allow many to suffer the consequences of hell, although He's a loving God! He didn't cause the destruction without warning: He was merciful; He warned them, were Pastor Terry's words. He has sent prophets of old; he sent His Son.  Jesus' words of warning, and love, continue. So warning is a good thing. It's the hearers of the warnings who must decide if they want to listen or judge.

Sean Hannity had a special on Billy Graham. I wondered how he managed to do this. I would watch it with an open ear. A bit of doubt invaded my mind and heart because for all the important people Graham managed to reach and actually get to talk to or spiritually advise, I have to admit, I don't know to what extent their lives really changed, if they did. Perhaps he only planted the proverbial seed. Like Jesus, many may think Graham is just a good, wise man, maybe a prophet. They still believe what they want to believe.

It does cause me to wonder why and how so many think they understand? How different is it from my understanding or that of others? But then, it was a just a seed in my life years prior to my own conversion. And God knows the rest of all our stories. Only God knows the outcome of the lives Billy Graham has touched.

Graham said that though many would react to this message (if they decided to watch it) it is the truth and he said with all his heart he wanted to leave us with this truth. Graham wants to leave us...with the truth. This may be the last time we hear from this man of God. But till his dying breath he will give us the same message of truth...that Jesus is the only way, truth and life; we are to take up our cross and follow Him.

What is Jesus' message? That He loves you and is willing to forgive you of all your sins. But you must go by way of the cross. You must believe that He was virgin born, lived a holy life with the very real knowledge that He was going to die for all mankind. He knew not all would receive Him, not even some in His own family. Like Graham, His message would always be the same. There is only one message. Without Jesus there is no hope. Without Jesus there is death.

Graham pointed out several things about the cross:
. It is offensive...but a cross we all must face some day.
. We don't want to hear we are all sinners, but we are.
. It demands, not suggests, a new lifestyle from sin which is a disease that affects the heart.

Jesus is our only hope for our eternal future. He sets us free. We become new persons in Christ.

Don't think you're a sinner? That is the first sign you are. None are righteous. NO ONE. You can't name one person, not one. ALL are sinners. All are in need of Christ. Not working to receive Him but working for Him once He is received. There are endless testimonies of God's transforming power in people. If we look at these people and think "good for them; glad for them" and glad we haven't been there/done that because we've lived a better life than these transformed individuals, we look at ourselves as better than they...another sin. When I hear or read about how God intervened in such a personal, powerful way in one person's life, it reminds me of the day it all became so real for me...and other times when I knew the Lord had intervened in my life in some way.

As one young woman in the program put it: The truth is, there is no other way. Besides Christ and what He did there's no life. Isn't that what Jesus tells us? I am the way, truth and the life. All that He did for us....it's mind boggling. He BECAME sin for us. He died on a cross where each of us should be. Without Him we remain in our sinful states. That is one truth. Another truth is we can be free of our sin if we receive Christ. Yet other truths: We will be forgiven of our sins and given eternal life; however, if we don't want to change what we are or how we view things we are rejecting Christ.

Graham spoke these wonderful words: Jesus was the only one born in this world without sin. But more than that He was a righteous one and when you come to Him you're clothed in His righteousness. God no longer sees your sin, nor your own heart. He sees Jesus.

We are told, as Graham said in one of his crusade messages, we don't have to understand all this...just believe. And anyone can believe...with all our heart. Believe, as Graham pointed out, means to commit...committing my life totally to Him. It's not just thinking in our minds, okay, I believe. It comes from a belief deep in your spirit, through repentance and faith in Him. One that causes a change in the way you think and believe. It causes you to want to be changed by a holy God. Repentance is that change. Recognizing you are a sinner and He is the only one who can forgive.

While Jesus may have died 2,000 years ago, He also arose and is still alive today ready to forgive anyone who is willing to put their faith and trust in the one true Way.

Some ask that you say a prayer to receive Christ. I received Christ before the prayer. The prayer was more a confirmation. Anyone can come to Christ by sincerely asking Him to show you what YOU need to see or hear to make Him real to you. It's not about a prayer. It's a heart issue and sincerity. Will your heart be the proper soil for receiving this seed?

John 10:11 - “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."